

How to Keep Kids Off Their Phones While Homeschooling
By: Scott Wilson | Sep 2, 2026
The most reliable way to keep kids off their phones while homeschooling is to agree on a spot where the phone goes during schoolwork, out of reach and out of sight. Set a clear return point, keep the work surface phone-free, and switch off notifications before the session starts.
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Liberty University Featured Program: Bachelor of Science in Special Education – Interdisciplinary Studies, Master of Arts ...Inclusive Classroom Resources for Teachers
By: Amanda Castillo | May 10, 2023

The best inclusive classroom resources come from organizations that publish free, classroom-ready materials: CAST for Universal Design for Learning, the PROGRESS Center for students with disabilities, and groups like Colorín Colorado and the Zinn Education Project for specific student populations. Start with a framework, then add materials.
Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Liberty University
Featured ...
Learning How to Say No and Set Boundaries with Parents
By: Jon Konen | Nov 21, 2022

Setting boundaries with parents starts with knowing which requests you can't compromise on. Anchor every "no" to safety, health, or education, state it once, offer a choice where one exists, and end the conversation on your terms. Consistency matters more than the wording you pick, and a boundary set early ...
How to Become a Certified Teacher: Routes, Exams, and Licensing
By: Amanda Castillo | Oct 10, 2022

To become a certified teacher, requirements commonly include an approved preparation pathway, any required assessments, applicable background checks/fingerprinting, and an application to the state licensing agency. Exact requirements vary by state and credential. Which route you take depends largely on what you already hold.
Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Liberty University
Featured Program: Bachelor of ...
How to Implement a Check-In, Check-Out (CICO) Behavior System
By: Jon Konen | Sep 26, 2022

Check-in, check-out (CICO) is an evidence-based Tier 2 behavior intervention that pairs a student with a trusted adult for a quick meeting at the start and end of each day. It can improve behavior for many students when it's appropriately matched to their needs and implemented with fidelity.
Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Liberty ...
Teacher Core Values: 7 Strategies for Living Your Code
By: Jon Konen | Aug 15, 2022

Teacher core values are the convictions you won't trade away when a decision gets hard. Commonly discussed professional values include integrity, empathy, respect, fairness, and responsibility. Naming yours matters because the pressure to soften them is real. Write down your five, back each with experience, and you'll know where you ...
8 Ways to Fall in Love with Teaching Again Instead of Leaving
By: Jon Konen | May 19, 2022

If you're trying to fall in love with teaching again, you have more options than staying miserable or quitting. Before you leave the profession, consider switching schools, grade levels, roles, or states. Burnout often traces to a specific fit problem, not to teaching itself. A lateral move can fix what ...
Advice for First-Year Teachers: What I’d Tell Myself
By: Jon Konen | May 4, 2022

The best advice for first-year teachers, from a superintendent 23 years in: spend your time on students rather than materials, build relationships before lessons, protect your own resilience, and start saving for retirement early. For this author, relationships ultimately mattered more than the materials and resources he bought.
Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Liberty ...
Toxic Positivity in Schools: Strategies for School Leaders
By: Jon Konen | Apr 5, 2022

Toxic positivity in schools happens when leaders push relentless optimism instead of addressing what staff are actually dealing with. It can backfire, contributing to sarcasm or resentment when legitimate concerns aren't addressed. The fix isn't less celebration. It's naming the hard reality first, then holding both students and adults to ...
Email Etiquette for School Leaders: When to Hit Send
By: Jon Konen | Feb 11, 2022

Email etiquette for school leaders comes down to when you send, not just how you write. Draft whenever your own schedule allows, then use schedule send so the message lands during the staff workday. Many leaders reserve after-hours sends for emergencies, following their district's own communication policy.
Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Liberty University
Featured ...
Advocating for Public Education: A Superintendent’s Guide
By: Jon Konen | Nov 15, 2021

Advocating for public education means telling the story of what happens in your classroom, showing up where funding decisions get made, and connecting your school to the community that pays for it. Teachers hold the credibility policymakers lack. The work is small, repeated, and local.
Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Liberty University
Featured Program: Bachelor ...
